Automatic gas and water regulator



July 4, 1939. o. w. HAHN AUTOMATIC GAS AND WATER REGULATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l n n @JMw 3.5.

INVENTOR rro W. HAHN.

July 4, 1939. o. w. HAHN AUTOMATIC GAS AND WATER REGULATOR Filed Dec. 14, 19:55

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Orro HAHN Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Otto W. Hahn, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Industrial Research Laboratories, Ltd., a corporation of Nevada Application December 14, 1935, Serial No. 54,454

13 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic gas and water regulators for water heaters of generally the same type shown in my Patent No. 1,789,547, January 20, 1931, and has for its objects simplified, durable construction of such devices as well as a regulator which will effect an improved control of high efficiency without the use of a thermostat. Also several other objects of the invention are improvements in the construction of various elements of such regulator for eliminating undesirable leakage of gas as well as more eificiently regulating the flow of gas. jects and advantages will appear in the following specification and in the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of my improved gas valve.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the valve of Fig. 1 as seen from the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2 with the valve operating rod shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a portion of the valve shown in Fig. 2 as seen from the line 44 of Fig. 2 with the front portion of the valve removed to disclose a portion of the interior of the valve.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the valve shown in Fig. 2 as seen from the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 with the rear cover of the valve removed.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the front portion 'of the valve of Fig. as seen from the line 65 of Fig. 2, the front portion being indicated as removed from the rest of the valve.

Fig. '7 is a View in elevation of one of the parts of the gas valve adapted to be actuated to regulate the volume of flow.

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the device of Fig. '7 as seen from the opposite side.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the device of Fig.

8 as seen from the line 9-9 thereof.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the movable gas valve adapted to automatically regulate the gas flow.

Fig. 11 is an assembly view of the gas and water valve combination with the water heater and pilot shown diagrammatically and portions of the assembly shown in section, the gas valve being shown in elevation.

In the drawings I is a frame or spacing member to the upper end of which is secured the body 2 within which the gas valve elements are supported, which elements are adapted for controlling the flow of gas from an inlet 3 to an outlet 4, the latter communicating with a burner 5 of a so-called instantaneous heater 1. A pilot Other ob- 8 is connected with the gas line at any desirable point ahead of the gas valve body 2 and is regulated by any suitable valve means (not shown).

The valve body 2 comprises a generally vertically disposed rectangular portion 9 cast integrally with horizontally extending base It. The portion 9 is hollow with horizontally aligned rectangular openings I I, I2 in opposite vertical sides defined by the inner edges of horizontally spaced flanges I3, I4 extending inwardly from around the sides I5 of the portion 9.

Over the opening I2 and against the outer, side of the flange I3 is a relatively thin plate of resilient sheet metal I6 secured between the outer face of the flange I3 and a rectangular plate I? by screws I8 that extend through the margins of plates I6, I! and into flange I3, the said plate I! being provided with a circular opening I9 adjacent its lower end as best shown in Fig. 4. An outwardly projecting ring or flange 28 is formed on plate Il' around said opening in which is rotatably mounted a circular, relatively thick disk 2|, (Figs. '7 to 9), one face of which is supported against the thin plate I6. The portion of plate I6 that extends across opening I9 is provided with a triangular opening 22, the apex of which is slightly offset to one side of the center of said portion of the plate and the side edges of the opening extend radially upwardly from the apex to adjacent the edge of opening I9, the base edge of the triangular opening conforming to the curvature of the opening I9 and slightly spaced inwardly from edge of opening I9 so as to leave a slight margin of the plate I6 at the top for engagement by the margin of disk 21 (Fig. 4).

Disk 2| is provided with a short row of circular openings 23 adjacent its periphery, which row extends about a fourth of the way around the disk, so that upon rotating the disk in one direction the holes 23 will be successively uncovered as they pass across the widest upper portion of opening 22 in plate I6. The face of the disk 2| that is adapted to engage the plate I6 is provided with a recess 24, which recess becomes progressively deeper from adjacent the center of the disk toward one end of the row of openings 23 and which also becomes progressively deeper from the opposite end of the row of openings toward said one end of the row as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9.

A rectangular cover plate 25 (Fig. 6) is adapted to be bolted against the flange I3 outwardly of the outer edge of plate H, which cover plate is provided with a cylindrical recess 26 adapted to axially register over the opening I9 and to receive ring 20. A shaft 21 rotatably extends through the center of the base of recess 26 into the recess, which shaft is provided at its inner end within the recess with a flat member 21 adapted to engage at its outer edge in a transversely extending recess 28 formed across the outer side of disk 2|. A coil spring 29 is positioned on shaft 2? between the base of the recess 26 and the member 21 to resiliently force the member 2's against the disk 2| and consequently to force the disk against plate I6. On the end of shaft 2'! outwardly of the base of the recess 26 is a handle El accessible for manually turning the disk 2|. Lugs 29' are provided on the outer side of the base of the recess in plate 25 to act as limit stops so that when the handle is turned in one direction the maximum number of openings 23 are over the openings 22 and when turned in the opposite direction the flat imperforate portion of disk ii is over the opening 22 and, of course, any intermediate position of the disk, such as indicated in Fig. 1, is provided for limiting the flow of gas.

It is of course manifest that by using a freely floating disk that is not rigidly secured to an opcrating shaft, the disk is free to accommodate itself to the slightest variations in the plate l6, and thus insure a tight seat, and the seating of the disk against plate I6 is independent of shaft 21.

Within the valve body on the side of plate l6 opposite the disk 2| is a vertically disposed rectangular plate 30 (Figs. 5, 10) with a flat face adapted to slidably seat against the opposite side of the plate Hi. This plate 30 is provided at its lower portion with an elongated relatively wide opening 3|, and spaced above said opening is a relatively narrow horizontally disposed elongated opening 32, the opening 3! being angularly disposed relative to the opening 32 and to a line normal to said latter opening as clearly seen in Fig. 10, wherein opening 3| extends substantially 45 relative to opening 32. Above opening 3| is a graphite insert 33 or other suitable lubricating means of similar character with its surface flush with the surface of plate 36. The plate 39 is firmly yet yieldably held against plate it by coil springs 34 at the four corners of the plate respectively. These springs are seated at one end in suitable sockets 35 formed in the rear side of plate 39 and at their opposite ends in sockets 36 in a rectangular plate 31' of substantially the same dimensions as plate 39. The plate 3? is secured to plate 39 for movement therewith by pins 38 secured to plate 36 and slidably projecting through plate 3l, said pins being disposed adjacent opposite edges of said plates at a point intermediate the length of the plate. The rear or outer side of plate 31 is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting parallel ribs 39 adjacent its two vertical side edges, which ribs are adapted to slidably bear against the inner side of a cover plate 40 adapted to be bolted at its edges. against the outer side of the flange l4. When so bolted in place, the cover plate 46 effects a compression of springs 34, thus the plate 36 is firmly held against plate l6.

Between plates 30, 31 is a yoke-like member 4| provided with openings in each of its arms through which the pins 38 slidably extend, and the leg of the yoke is recessed to receive the upper end of a rod 42 extending downwardly between the two springs at one end of plate 3i and through a bearing 43 in the base ll! of the valve body and packing gland 44 to below the valve body. The rod 42 is pinned to the arm of the yoke member 4| and the recess receiving the rod is or" a size to permit slight movement of the yoke so as to free the yoke from any tendency to bind on pins 38 and to enable the plate 39 to freely accommodate itself to any variations in plate l6 so as to insure a tight seat between plates 30 and i6 irrespective of misalignment of rod 42. The plate 31 is secured against accidental removal from pins 38 by a wire 45 or cotter pins xtending through the pins 38 outwardly of plate 31. It is also seen that the plates 39, 31 are free to move in a direction toward and away from plate l6 by reason of the fact that the yoke member 4| is slidable on pins 39.

The base Ill is cored out at 46, 41' respectively on opposite sides of rod providing separate passages to opposite sides of plate l6 respectively, the passage 46 opening into recess 26 one end behind the outer side of disk 2| as at 48 (Figs. 2, 4), and passage 41 opening at 49 into the space in which the plates 36, H are slidable, and the opposite ends of the passages 46, 4'! open outwardly of the lower side of base W at 50, 56', re spectively, the opening 56 being adapted to communicate with gas inlet 3 through a passage formed in the upper end of spacing member and opening 50' being adapted to communicate with gas outlet 4 through a second passage similarly formed in the upper end of said spacing member as seen in Fig. 11, the base l6 being bolted as at to the upper end of spacing member.

After passing through base II], the rod 42 extends downwardly through a short enlarged cylindrical member 52 that is outwardly flanged top and bottom at 53, 54 respectively. A relatively longer cylindrical member 55 extends downwardly in axial alignment below member 52, which latter member is bolted at 56 to the flanged lower end of member 52. The lower end of rod 42 extends into the upper end of member 55 and is provided at its lower end with a relatively loose fitting collar 56. Interposed between collar 56 and an inwardly directed flange 56' at the upper end of member 52 is a coil spring 51 under compression so that in its normal condition, with no flow of water, the plate 30 is yieldably held at the lowermost end of its movement within the valve body, in which position the imperforate upper portion of plate 30 is over the triangular opening 22 in plate [6. Also, the tubular or cylindrical member 52 is yieldably held against the base of the valve body and is free to move laterally on the base to be self-aligning in the case of any misalignment of the rod 42 or the other elements to be described.

Within the lower end of cylindrical member 55 is telescopically fitted a tubular member 58. This member is nicely fitted to slide within the member 55 and normally terminates at its lower end substantially at the lower end of member 55. A pair of vertical slots 59 are formed in the opposite sides of tubular member 58, and the upper end of said member engages the collar 56 that is secured on the lower end of rod 42. A pin 66 extends transversely across the member 58 and projects at its opposite ends through slots 59 and into openings in the opposite sides of mema relatively small passageway 63 as compared to recess 62 communicating with the space below the closed lower end of member 58. Also, a pair of ball check valves 64 are provided in small passages 65, 66 extending through the closed lower end of 58, which valves are adapted to close upon up-fiow and to open by gravity upon cessation of any up-flowthrough said passages. A small tube 6'! in register over the upper end of passage 65 extends upwardly within the member 58, while the upper end of passage 56 opens directly into the bottom of said member.

The lower end of cylindrical member 55 is telescopically slidable in a tubular member 68 that is closed at its lower end at a point spaced below the lower ends of members 55, 58, thus forming an enclosed chamber 69 in its lower end. The lower end of boss 6| engages a similar, though smaller, boss 10 projecting upwardly from the bottom 1| of member 68. Within the chamber thus formed is a body of liquid, such as water, oil, or the like, that normally fills the chamber and extends to a level 12 just above the lower wall of member 58, the liquid passing through passage 63, 66 into the lower end of member 58.

Extending downwardly from the bottom ll of member 68 is a rod 73 in axial alignment with rod 42, which rod 73 extends through a packing nut 14 in the upper closed end 75 of an enlarged hollow cylinder 16. Within the cylinder 16 and normally within the lower end thereof, is a piston T! with its closed end 18 uppermost. The rod 13 extends loosely through the end 18 and is secured at its lower end to a cross-bar 19 extending across and secured to the lower end of the piston. The end I8 of the piston has a circular row of holes in its upper end and a pair of flexible wash ers 8|, such as rubber, are loosely slidable on the rod 73 within the piston between bar 19 and the top 18 of the piston. The outer edges of said Washers are spaced from the inner walls of the piston, but are adapted to close the holes 89 upon being vertically moved along the rod to the top of said cylinder.

The outer sides of piston T! are tapered from top to bottom, the upper end being a relatively close fit and the lower end being slightly spaced from the inner side of the cylindrical member 16 when the piston is in the lower end of the cylinder, which cylinder is internally enlarged at its upper end above the piston from point 82. Formed on substantially the upper half of the piston and around its outer sides is a pair of helical grooves 83, which grooves are progressively deeper from the top of the piston to their lower terminations at about midway between the top and bottom of said piston.

The lower end of cylindrical member '16 is inwardly flanged at 84 with several upstanding lugs or projections 85 on the upper side of the flange for supporting the piston above the bottom of the cylinder, and around the lower end of the piston are several outwardlyproj ecting portions 8 6 adapted to align the piston within the cylinder. A central inlet opening 87 is formed in the bottom of said cylinder '16, being defined by the inner edges of the flange 84 and a casting 88 is bolted at 89 to an outwardly projecting flange 99 on the lower end of the cylinder. Said casting has a passage 9! formed therein communicating at one end with opening 81 and a fluid flow control device 92 like that shown in my Patent No. 2,042,462, June 2, 1936, is mounted in said passage for controlling the maximum flow of liquid through said passageway irrespective of variations in dynamic pressure.

Ahead of the device 92 is a filter 93 substantially like that shown in my Patent No. 2,081,198, May 25, 1937, for filtering out any impurities in liquid that is adapted to flow through said passage from inlet 94 at the side of. the filter.

At the upper end of cylinder 16 is a liquid outlet passage 95 adapted to convey liquid to the hot water heater 1.

In operation with the pilot burner lighted, and with water valve 96 closed, it will be seen that there can be no flow of gas to the burner 5 and that the water pressure within cylinder 76 is equalized on opposite sides of washers 8| so the washers are in the position shown in Fig. 11. Immediately upon opening valve 96 to permit a flow of water above a predetermined minimum, the pressure on the upper side of the washers 8| is relieved and the washers will rise to close the holes 89, and a subsequent differential in pressure on opposite sides of the piston is effective to lift the piston and to thereby transmit mo tion to cylinders 68, 58, and to slide the plate 39 in the valve body 2 upwardly so as to allow a progressively increased flow of gas through openings 22, 23, 32, and 3| to the gas burner. The maximum amount of gas that is permitted to flow through the openings 32, 3| is, of course, controlled by the setting of disk 2|. The resistance to the lifting of piston H is determined by the spring 51, and the rate of upward movement of the plate 30, which will be hereafter termed sliding gas valve as distinguished from the termfrotary disk valve used to designate gas valve 2|, is determined by the character of the liquid in chamber 69, the area of. the passage 63 combined with the resistance created by spring 5?, since it is obvious that before the cylinder 98 can rise the liquid therein must be displaced into cylinder 58 through the passage 63 except as the resistance of spring 51 is overcome, The initial flow of water through the opened valve 96 is less than the capacity of the valve 96 or the fluid flow device 92 to pass water, since the portion a? of the piston is relatively close fitting at its upper end, but with a continued flow above a dynamic pressure sufficient to compress spring 52, the disks 8| will rise to close holes 89 and the water flow will progressively increase since. the piston H is gradually forced upwardly into the enlarged upper end of the cylinder 16 and the grooves 83 also progressively permit passage of a greater quantity of water until the maximum flow is reached for a maximum dynamic pressure when pin 69 engages the upper end of slot 59. When this maximum flow is reached the sliding gas valve 39 permits a maximum gas flow to the burner 5 and this maximum gas flow is progressively reached as piston Tl progressively rises and as the maximum capacity of the water flow control 92 is reached. The liquid in chamber 69 has then been forced to within the cylinder 58. Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5 show the sliding gas valve at the top of its stroke permitting a maximum flow of gas to the burner. In Fig. 11 the apparatus as a whole is indicated before the operation above described is commenced.

It is very important in automatic gas control apparatus of this character that the gas be slowly admitted to the gas burner, otherwise a sudden surge would tend to, and many times does, extinguish the pilot and create a dangerous condition. It is equally important, if. not more so, that 75;

the reduction of flame upon closing the water valve 96 be gradual. This is accomplished in my device by reason of. the fact that the liquid in cylinder 58 must pass back into chamber 69 through the restricted openings 63, 66 before the sliding gas valve 39 will close the opening 22 under the effect of spring 42, air being slowly admitted through small orifice 65 to negative any resistance to vacuum in chamber 69, since the liquid displaced into member 58 never overflows pipe 6?.

Another condition heretofore detrimental to the successful operation of devices of this character is the result of water hammer on the con trol apparatus by reason of sudden closing of the hot water valve or any other valve in cold water lines that might be connected with the intake 94. This disadvantage I completely eliminate by reason of the floating Washers 8| which are free to move to immediately equalize the pressure on opposite sides of the piston upon such closing of the valve or valves thus removing the effect of the water hammer on piston Tl.

While the combination of elements as shown herewith is thought novel, the particular construction of the gas valve shown in Figs. 1 to 10 and the particular construction of the water control apparatus of Fig. 11, are so highly efficient over prior apparatus of which I am aware, that I consider such construction to be novel and to come within the scope of my invention.

The gas valve in Figs. 1 to 10 provides a construction in which there is no leakage whatsoever, yet the ease of operation and ready response to water pressures acting on rod 42 permits an accuracy of gas control relative to water flow within extremely close, readily determinable limits. The construction of the disk 2| relative to opening 22 and sliding gas valve 30, permits a predetermined range of gas flow relative to water flow of such a character as to give any desired temperature of water for a predetermined flow of water. It is to be noted that by reason of the washers 8| in the piston 11 any rise in pressure above the piston and in the water heater line whereby the pressures above and below the piston respectively tend to become equalized will immediately result in a movement of the piston, thus an increase in temperature and pressure of the water in the water heater above the desired point will result in reducing the gas fiame by reason of a downward movement of the gas valve 30.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A gas valve comprising a body having a through-passage provided with an inlet and an outlet, a faced valve block reciprocably positioned within said body normally closing said passage and provided with a port adapted to progressively open said passage to fiow of gas upon reciprocation of said valve block, .a member having a fiat side rotatably positioned within said body with its fiat side positioned adjacent the faced surface of said block, said member being disposed across said passage and being ported to progressively open said passage to flow of gas to said block upon rotating said member, means yieldably urging said block toward said member, means accessible from outside said body for rotating said member and means for reciprocating said block.

2. The construction as defined in claim 1, plus means yieldably urging said member toward said block.

3. The construction as defined in, claim 1, plus a relatively thin metal plate secured to said body and extending across said passage, said block and said member being positioned on opposite sides of said plate with the faced surface of said block slidably engaging one side of said plate and the flat side of said member engaging the opposite side of said plate, said plate being provided with an aperture positioned for coincidental alignment with the ports in said block and mem ber respectively upon reciprocation of the block and rotation of said member.

4. The construction as defined in claim 1, plus a relatively thin metal plate secured to said body and extending across said passage, said block and said member being positioned on opposite sides of said plate with the faced surface of said block slidably engaging one side of said plate and the fiat side of said member engaging the opposite side of said plate, said plate being provided with an aperture positioned for coincidental alignment with the ports in said block .and member respectively upon reciprocation of the block and rotation of said member, and means yieldably urging said member against said plate.

5. In a construction as defined in claim 1, said means for rotating said member comprising a shaft rotatably extending through a side of said body to the outside and a spring yieldably urging said shaft into engagement with a side of said member.

6. In a construction as defined in claim 1, the means for reciprocating said block comprising a water valve connected to said block and adapted to be actuated by a drop in water pressure on one side of said water valve.

'7. In a gas and water regulator for a quick weater heater, a Water valve and a gas valve, means by which both valves are operated through water pressure on the water valve, said water valve comprising a body having a through-passage provided with an inlet and an outlet, a pistOn movable within said passage operated by unbalanced pressure thereon and provided with a port adapted to permit passage of water therethrough from one side of the piston to the other, a member floatingly mounted within said passage arranged and adapted for free movement under the influence of gravity to open said port and responsive to dynamic pressure of water in moving through the passage from the inlet to the outlet to move to close said port.

8. In a construction as defined in claim '7, said member being adapted to move solely by gravity to open said port upon the pressure of water on opposite sides of the piston being equalized.

9. In a construction as defined in claim 7, said piston being hollow and provided with a head at one end thereof, said port being positioned within the head of the piston and the outer sides of the piston being provided at the end adjacent the head with a helical groove therearound of progressively decreasing depth in the direction from the head of the piston toward the opposite end thereof.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a water valve adapted to be operated by unbalanced pressure on opposite sides thereof comprising a body having a vertically extending cylindrical passage therein provided with an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at the lower end, said passage being of enlarged diameter at the upper end relative to the diameter at the lower end thereof, a piston slidable within said passage fitting relatively closely at its sides within the lower end of the passage, said piston being hollow and provided with a head at its upper end, said head having a plurality of openings therethrough to pass water from the inlet to the outlet and a plurality of annular disks floatingly mounted within the piston arranged and adapted to move to close said ports upon flow of water in said passage and to move solely by influence of gravity upon cessation of flow, the outer sides of said piston tapering smaller from the head toward the opposite end and means for passing a small amount of water between the sides of the piston and the inner sides of the passage when the piston is at the lower end of the passage.

11. In a construction as defined in claim 10,

} said last-mentioned means comprising a pair of parallel helical grooves formed on the outer sides of said piston extending from the upper end of the piston toward the lower end thereof.

12. In combination, a water heater including a conduit for water under pressure, a gas line and a gas burner therein positioned to heat water at a point in said conduit, a discharge valve in said conduit for withdrawing water that has been heated by said burner from said conduit, a water valve in said conduit arranged and adapted to be actuated by the dynamic pressure of the water in said conduit toprogressively open the conduit to fiow of water to the point where the burner is positioned in direct relation to increase in the dynamic pressure of the water in said conduit, means actuated by said water valve upon opening of said water valve to flow of water in said conduit for progressively opening said gas valve to flow of gas to the burner, means in said conduit separate from and operative independently of said water valve by the dynamic pressure of water in said conduit to control the flow of water to said water valve whereby the movement of said gas valve and water valve is modified by said last mentioned means.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a water heater including a water conduit for the water and means for heating the water at a point in said conduit, discharge means in said conduit at a point after the water is heated at said point for drawing heated water at variable rates of flow per minute from said conduit thereby causing variations in the dynamic pressure of the water flowing past said point, heat control means actuated by and responsive to the dynamic pressure and variations therein of the water in said conduit for causing actuation of the means for heating said water in direct proportion to the dynamic flow of water past said point, means responsive solely to the dynamic pressure of water in said conduit for restricting the maximum dynamic pressure of water in said conduit to a predetermined limit.

O'I'I'O W. HAHN. 

